Connector



Aug. 10, 1943.

R. D. BREWER 2,326,327

CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 31, 1941 BT WC.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 10, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONNECTOR.

Richard D. Brewer, Wayne, Mich., assignor to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application October 31,1941, Serial No. 417,256

7 Claims.

This invention concerns electrical apparatus, and, more particularly, a multiple connector by which a number of electrical conductors may be quickly and securely placed in electrical contact.

An object of this invention is to provide a gang connector which embodies a number of separate contacts which may be engaged or disengaged readily. A further-object is to provide a gang connector in which the number of contacts may be varied at will to accommodate the desired number of conductors. Still another object of the invention is to provide a connector in which the component parts are completely interchangeable so that connectors embodying any desired number of contacts may be fabricated to meet the particular conditions from a minimum stock of parts. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a connector inwhich there is double contact between the connecting elements.

An advantage of the construction of this invention is that gang connectors may be obtained which are compact and light in weight. This is particularly advantageous in aircraft construc tion where, for instance, it is necessary to hook subassemblies, such as a radio transmitter having a number of conductors, into the main wiring trunk of the ship. The device of'this invention embodies two identical connector halves, the subassembly conductors are attached to one of the links of the connector, and the appropriate leads from the main connected to the other half which may be fixedly mounted. Then, the subassembly is to be connected into the wiring system, the two connector halves are engaged and a secure and certain electrical contact results.

Another advantage of the construction is that a connector can be immediately fabricated to handle any desired number of conductors and, as .both the case-and the contact parts are the same throughout, the connector may be made up from a minimum number of different parts. The construction is highly compact, strong and electrically efficient. The component parts, both as to case and contact, may be cheaply and easily made. The resultant connector surpasses other constructions which have come to the applicant's attention.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts of the improved device, as described in this specification,.claimed in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connector in its disengaged position.

Figure 2 is an exploded sectional elevation showing the component parts of the connector. Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the upper and lower sides, respectively, of one of the intermediate blocks.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the terminals used in the device. Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the mode of contact of the terminals when the connector plugs are engaged.

Figures 7 and 8 are, respectively, a plan and a sectional elevation of another modification of this device.

Figure 9 is a developed view. of the terminal shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 illustrates the connector H), which comprises the two identical plugs H in disengaged position. Each plug consists of a top block l2, a number of intermediate blocks l3 and a bottom block I4 and, disposed between the successive blocks in recesses therein, the terminals or clips IS. The entire device, so assembled, is held in position by a bolt I6. I

This construction is more clearly shown in Figure 2, in which but one intermediate block I3 is shown. It will be understood, however, that any number of such intermediate blocks may be used as required by the number of conductors which are to be accommodated. This view shows that the top and bottom blocks l2 and I4 each have one flat exterior face ll, while their inner faces are shaped in a manner which will be described more fully. It will also be noted thatthe upper face of the intermediate block l3 corresponds to the inner face of the bottom block and itslower face corresponds to the inner face of the top block.

This recess, formed by adjacent co-operating faces, is designed to accommodate a terminal of the configuration shown in Figure 5, substanv tially half of the terminal being received in each adjacent block. Thus, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the forepart of the recess is shaped to re ceive the spring portion. l8 of the terminal 15 and has a trough I9 extending to the front edge of the blockin which the tongue 20 ofthe terminal I5 is seated. The back portion 2| of the recess is cylindrical in section and receives the ferrule 22 of the terminal. Connecting the front and back portions is an offset slot 23 which receives the intermediate plate 24 of the terminal. The entry .25 is beveled to facilitate the insertion of used are believed to be obvious.

'tlve motion between the blocks.

Each block is traversed by a hole 28 through which the bolt I6 is passed to secure the assembly. It will be noted that various offsets are provided on the side walls of the depressions such as 29 and 30 in which corresponding portions, such as 3| and 32, of the terminal are seated. These cooperate to prevent any longitudinal or lateral motions of the clip within the block and insure that it will be secured therein in the proper position without recourse to other fastening means. In general, as shown in Figure 1, when these plugs are assembled, top and bottom angles 33 will be added to provide means for attaching the plug to a bulkhead or similar support.

In assembling a plug, each conductor 34 is soldered or otherwise secured to the ferrule 22 of a terminal l5.

block M, an intermediate block I3 is then laid on top of the block l4, and another terminal placed in the depression in the upper face of block Hi. The adding of terminals and intermediate blocks is continued until the desired number of contacts is obtained. The top block I2 is then placed over the last terminal, angles 33 are added at the top and bottom and the tiebolt l6 inserted through the central bolt hole 28 in the blocks, rigidly clamping the assembly together. Both co-operating plugs are assembled similarly, the appropriate conductors in each being placed in the same order.

Both plugs are identical and their contacting action is similar, as best shown in Figure 6. This view shows the surface contact between the two tongues 20 and also the double spring contact exerted thereon by the spring portions 18. This provides a more certain and effective construction than where only a single contact is used. The method of forming the terminal I5 is shown in Figure 9 in which the dotted lines indicate folds or bends. The portions corresponding to those of Figure 6 are numbered accordingly.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of this invention. Again, the connecting plugs are built up from a number of similar blocks such as 40. In this case, however, each block has two depressions 4| on each face so that two terminals 42 are disposed in each block. The assembled blocks 40 are held together, as previously, by bolts received in holes 43; as these holes are located between the terminals, it is not necessary to offset the portion of the terminals between the spring 44 and the ferrule 45, as in the previous construction. In other respects, this construction closely follows that first described, although it is particularly advantageous when a very large number of conductors must be accommodated.

The advantages of the stacked construction An extremely flexible connector is obtained which may be increased or diminished to accommodate any desired number of conductors. While the assembled plug is shown as having a special top and bottom block, it will be obviou that the entire plug could be assembled from the intermediate blocks alone, although at some sacrifice in appearance. Both plugs which go to make up the connector are identical and the clips and blocks used in both are the same throughout.- The saving in One of the terminals is inserted. a in the depression in the upper face of the bottom parts should be at once apparent and the resulting compactness and light weight has particular advantages in the field for which this is intended.

Another advantage is the double contact in which the terminal springs counter each other and in which they contact not only the opposing tongue but also force the tongues into contact with each other. This insures electrical contact even under the most unfavorable condition.

Another advantage is the ease with which changes may be made even after the plugs are fabricated. Thus conductors may be added, reducedin number or changed speedily and without difficulty. The only permanent connection is between the terminal and its associated conductor which is made before the plug is assembled. Thereafter the terminal and conductor may be added to or removed from the plug as a unit. Diflicult soldering and time consuming screw fasteners are avoided.

As has been stated previously, the field for which this device is particularly intended is the only permanent connections have been satisfactory. However, when two plugs of the type shown in Figure l are brought together and engaged, the electricalcontact is certain; and, by then securing the angles shown to a bulkhead with bolts or screws, it is obvious that there can beno disengagement of the contact, no matter how adverse the conditions may be.

Some changes may be made in the arrangement, construction, and combination of the various parts of the improved connecting construction without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is the intention to cover by the claims such changes as may reasonably be included within the scope thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a connector of the class described, a bottom block, a top block and a plurality of intermediate blocks, adjacent faces of said block's being formed to provide a chamber to receive a contact clip therebetween, a contact clip comprising overlying co-operating contact surfaces disposed between each pair of adjacent faces, means in said recesses to secure said clips therein, and means to secure said blocks to ether.

2. In agang connector, a pair of interengageable plugs, each plug comprising, a stack, including a top block, a bottom block and a plurality of intermediate blocks, depressed chambers formed on adjacent faces of said blocks to receive contact clips, contact clips therebetween, said contact clips having a spring portion and a projecting tongue, said spring portion being received within said block, access means leading from the exterior of said blocks to said spring portion and said tongue extending along said spring portion through said access means, the blocks and clips in both of said plugs being of substantially the same figuration throughout.

3. In a connector, comprising, a plurality of nested, substantially similar blocks, said blocks having depressions on opposite faces thereof, the depressions in adjacent faces defining a chamber to receive a contact clip therebetween, said Naturally, connectors in such use I .and at least one of said blocks having said recesses on two faces thereof.

5. In a connector, comprising, a stack of co-operating blocks having recesses on adjacent faces thereof, at least one of said blocks having recesses on Opposite faces thereof, the recesses on adjacent faces co-operating to form terminal chambers therebetween, terminals disposed therein, said chambers being so shaped as to respect thereto when engaged therein, said terminal including a portion at one end for the attachment of a conductor thereto and a combined spring portion and extending tongue at the other end thereof comprising male and female contact means, a securing means traversing said blocks, the mid-portion of said terminal being offset with respect to the ends thereof, said ends and said prevent bodily movement of the terminal with securing means being substantially aligned long1- tudinally of said blocks;

,6. In an interengageable connector, a stack comprising a top block, a bottom block and a plurality of intermediate blocks, chambers formed between adjacent faces of said blocks to receive contact clips, contact clips therein, said contact clips having a spring portion and a projecting tongue and a connecting means, said spring portion being enclosed within said block, access means leading from the exterior of said block to said spring portion, said tongue extending forwardly along said spring portion and through said access means outwardly of said block, said connecting means extending rearwardly of said spring means.

7. In a contact clip, comprising a strip of metal bent intermediate its ends to form a tongue and an overlying spring portion engaging said tongue to form a contact portion, an intermediate portion secured to one side of said contact portion and extending therefrom a substantial distance rearwardly of said bent portion, and a connecting means at the end of said intermediate portion, said last-named means substantially aligning with said contact portion.

RICHARD D. BREWER. 

